Improve Your Home And Respect The Environment

Feb 27

07:50

2013

Keith Barrett

The first step to lowering your energy bills should be to ensure that all your current heating energy is used as efficiently as possible. Set the central heating and hot water thermostats on their lowest comfortable settings and also set their timers for the shortest possible intervals. Closing all the curtains and also the upstairs internal doors at sundown will not just help to reduce your bills, but also make you feel more snug at the same time.

The next easiest way to improve the energy efficiency of your home is plug any gaps where cold air can enter the property. Self adhesive sealing strips and caulking guns can be bought very cheaply from hardware stores. The strips can be applied to door and window frames, properly draught-proofing them. The caulking gun can be used to seal any air gaps, such as those found under the window sills in most houses.

Next, make sure there is adequate insulation in the loft, between any cavity walls and around the hot water tank. Check with your local authority whether you are eligible for any grants, if your property needs additional insulation.

Older boilers are inefficient. Grants are sometimes available to help with the cost of replacing these. In any case, a more efficient boiler can quickly pay for itself. Replacing the radiator valves with thermostatically controlled ones can reduce bills by allowing the temperature in each room to be carefully controlled.

When considering boiler replacement, it is worth looking at the latest green heating systems, which provide real alternatives to those which rely on burning fossil fuels. Air-source heat pumps work like a fridge in reverse, harvesting the residual heat in the air outside the property. Similarly, ground source heat pumps use geothermal energy to do the same job. Biomass boilers use waste products from agriculture and forestry for fuel.

Solar hot water heating is amongst the cheaper systems available for lowering your energy bills. It is also one of the greenest as they use solar energy that would otherwise be wasted, while at the same time using little carbon in their construction.

Fitting electrical solar panels can make good financial sense, as well as being green. The installation is subsidised, meaning the panels pay for themselves in around 10 years. After this time, they are effectively generating free income as well as free energy for the property owner.

There are many green improvements which can be made to our homes. Knowing you are doing your bit can feel like a reward in itself. As many of these changes can pay for themselves, save money and increase the value of your property they make good financial sense as well.

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